On Cloud Nine now...after work hunt with Mirage-we both score large cents!

[Danimal]

Bob and I were contemplating leaving the woods and heading home. It was now dark and becoming difficult to keep from walking right into a dead branch right at eye level and poking your eye out. Unbelievably right after we walked into the woods after hauling ass to my new hotspot after work I hit another swwwweeeeet signal and popped yet another large copper outta the ground (my 4th in 3 days). Bob shook his head in disbelief and yet I could see a renewed determination in his eyes. This big copper was not in the same general location as the last three and while we poked our coils into nooks and crannies we discussed our own pet theories on the wheres and whys for the target's locations. Were they scattered along a direct path from the home to the privey maybe? A smattering of small square nails seemed to indicate maybe a shed or wooden outbuilding. Maybe the outhouse itself as there was a sunken depression perhaps 15 feet away. Now...seeing another one freed from the soil he knew...not hoped...there were more. Not 10 minutes later Bob scored his own. And then he hit silver. And then I hit what looks like a Civil War token. And then buttons flowed. And a dropped musketball. Things were staring to click and I gotta tell you folks, I haven't been this jacked since the very early days at the Iceberg when Bob and I felt so damn confident that we were practically willing the coins out of the soil.
Here, tonight, we had equal adrenaline flowing but it was different somehow because of the age of the finds. But darnit it was dark. What to do? After a short discussion while we calmed down we left our machines in the woods, walked to an exit point to the abandoned road leading to the cellarholes (marking the spot with my shovel) and hiked back to our cars. There we geared up with LED headlights and, giddy like schoolkids walked quickly back into the now pitch dark woods chatting away about what was happening. I have night hunted quite a few times, but not with this kind of hightened expectations. Something you folks need to consider is...Bob has been hunting a while longer than me. Bob is VERY good at what he does and knows the Explorer inside and out. I have been at this hobby just over two years and I feel like I am where I need to be considering the time I put into this hobby (way of life really). NEITHER of us had up until a week or so ago ever dug a large cent. Last year I skipped right past them and dug a 1792 Hibernia Half Cent, but no LC and they were at the TOP of my "to find" list. Now...I was finally in an area that I knew had them...and it's allll mine!
After a while though, the adrenaline wore off...the woods grew even darker making orientation towards where we were and where we were working harder. With no more high tones happening we decided to call it a night.
The great thing is, this spot is one of MANY in this area. It's obviously virgin ground. I think expectations will remain high for a while. This makes 5 large cents in three days along with period silver and tokens.
Here's a few pics. Hope you TNetters enjoyed hearing about this. I think Bob will add to this thread with his own finds.
For those of you who aren't excited about a large cent or two or three, it HAS to be because you have been there...done that. Then you gotta remember what it was like.

My finds from 2 hour hunt tonight. Undatable Braided Hair LC, small token with what looks like rifles crossed and a wreath, dropped musketball and other old lead strips, instrument reeds, buttons, part of a pewter utensil and a pristine AAA safety badge.

closeup of LC

closeup of possible CW token

buttons and reeds


I'll be back there this Friday after work and all day Sat and Sun.

HH all!!

 

[Danimal]

Even in PA, you have to do your research or you will not be as successful. My two uncles hunted in the same county that PACO, KirkPA, and I are currently pulling unbelievable amounts of coppers out of in the 1990s. During these years, they never pulled out a Colonial and they only found the occasional stray large cent. Therefore, just because someone lives in PA, NJ, MA, CT, etc., it doesn't mean that they are going to find handfuls of coppers everytime they go out.

Not sure I understand why you felt it neccesary to say this Zoy.
You need to be commended of course for the time and effort you put into the research that nets you guys such incredible finds, but always remember the history of the area you were born in and still live in. Some people can spend their entire free time in libraries doing the same thing only to find out that there really isn't that much available (key word there-available) in their area where the odds of finding early coins makes the field effort worthwhile. Or they DO finds spots only to be told "no" by the landowners.
The physical "skills" aspect of this hobby (understanding your machine and what it is telling you...knowing how to effectively cover the ground according to the coil being used, etc.) is the SIMPLEST thing to master in detecting. No doubt you guys know your machines well but you would also be successful using a Minelab, Fisher or any other machine for that matter. It's what you do Kyle (the research) that reaps the rewards and takes the real skill.
Not some expounded imaginary "skill" as if other that don't possess this "skill" will never succeed. Thinking that way does nothing more than feed one's ego.
Some people fish all their lives and never catch a bass over 3 lbs. Some of those people STILL ENJOY fishing, regardless of never having caught a true giant bass. They don't CARE to learn what it takes to find and catch huge bass on a regular basis. It's the drive and initiative they lack...not "skills"

BTW, don't take this as criticism in ANY way. I am in awe constantly in the finds that come from your researched spots.

 

[Evolution]

You guys have got a great spot there. I hope to see you pull a lot more copper out of there. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[jfx55]

Just for info on what to expect, we have averaged 4-7 coins at each early 1800 era homesteads, usually if one is found at least 4 can be expected, if more than 7, than it is big smile time.
Our homesteads for the most part were occupied by common laborers, those who worked at saw mills(mostly tree cutters), grist mills, iron forges and some associated with water related industry, such as fishing, pirating, and trade commerce...There were no big farms in my area in late 1700's to early 1800's, most places had small plots where they raised there own. A lot of the homesteads were squatters living on big tracts of land owned by those who ran the iron industry, tree cutting and etc, thus most never showed on any maps..

Our coins are NOT easy to find, ask those who live in my area who have never found any! We have worked hard to find what we do and only through thorough research and getting out there and walking miles have we succeeded.

Nowaways, the vast majority of possible sites are going by the way of development like so many other parts of the country and finding old permissible sites is getting harder each year.

Don i agree. this past spring/summer and now fall has been good to me as far as the coppers this season. but it took alot of walking and GETTING the permission to hunt there fields. norm for my self is 15-25 old coppers and misc a season. however my silver count is even high this year. just good researched sites i have 2-more possible sites-then im done for the season. to much to due on the homefront.

 

[ModernMiner]

WOW!!! Again?
Way to go Dan and Bob. You guys are amazing. Fantastic spot you have there.
Hell, I can't even find an SLQ or Barber.
Congrats Guys.
-Doug-

 

[Kas]

Good job guys. Hope you find lots more.

Ken

 

[coinman66]

Holy Large cents Batman! NICE finds guys! Rape the land of its goods! HH
Coinman66

 

[SgtSki in MI]

Nice digs guys!!!

That token looks intriguing too. WTG on the LCs and silver!!!

HH,
SgtSki

 

[Danimal]

Re: Nice digs guys!!!

That token looks intriguing too. WTG on the LCs and silver!!!

HH,
SgtSki

I cleaned up some of the corrosion on the token. On the one side are what look like two surgical kinves and a snake surrounded by a wreath.
On the other side has a person's name with "surgeon-dentist" underneath that and the town's name underneath that. I don't feel comfortable showing a pic of it as the town shown is right next to where this location is. I Googled the name and he was a famous CW surgeon and dentist.
Cool history and tie-in to the site. This guy was born on a farm in the nearby city in 1830. He obviously issued hard time tokens during the coinage shortage in the CW.